How Christian McCaffrey became a scrimmage yard king - ESPN

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — With just under seven minutes left in a Week 11 victory against the Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey sprinted wide left and 2 yards off the line of scrimmage before the snap.

The motion left McCaffrey isolated against Cardinals cornerback Max Melton, a running back versus cornerback matchup that under normal circumstances, would mean the ball was headed elsewhere. That's especially true on third-and-15 with the Niners leading by 19.

At the snap, McCaffrey quickly ate up the 9-yard cushion Melton provided. By the time McCaffrey stopped abruptly at the 23, he had discarded Melton with a little bit of contact and worked back to the 24 as quarterback Brock Purdy had already let it fly. McCaffrey stopped, gathered and elevated to make a difficult grab as Melton arrived right after the ball.

McCaffrey reeled it in for a first down. Two plays later, his 4-yard touchdown plunge put the game away. But when it was over, teammates and coaches marveled at that 15-yard catch.

«I don't know any other running backs who can do that,» Purdy said. «We have one of a kind.»

We get to witness CMC